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Kenneth P. Wright Jr.

Kenneth P. Wright Jr., Ph.D.
Department of Integrative Physiology
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0354
phone: 303-735-6409
fax: 303-492-4009
e-mail:kenneth.wright@colorado.edu

Research Interests

  • The influence of sleep and circadian rhythms on human physiology (e.g., general physiology, neuroendocrine system, metabolic function) and behavior (e.g., sleepiness, memory, mood, cognitive, and balance) with application to public health and safety.

  • Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory.

Education

  • 1986-1990, B.S. (Psychology), University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

  • 1991-1994, M.A., (Behavioral Neuroscience/Psychology) Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH

  • 1994-1996, Ph.D. (Behavioral Neuroscience/Psychology) Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH

Professional Experience

  • 1989-1991, Research Assistant in Psychology, Sleep and Cognition Unit, Psychology Department, University of Arizona; Tucson, AZ.

  • 1990-1991, Research Assistant in Psychology, Psychoneurophysiology Laboratory, Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.

  • 1995-1997, Post-doctoral Faculty Fellow, Behavioral Neuroscience/Sleep and Circadian Rhythms, Psychology Department, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH.

  • 1997-2000, Research Fellow in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Circadian, Neuroendocrine and Sleep Disorders Section, Brigham and WomenÌs Hospital, Boston, MA.

  • 2000-2001, Associate Neuroscientist, Division of Endocrinology, Circadian, Neuroendocrine and Sleep Disorders Section, Brigham and WomenÌs Hospital, Boston, MA.

  • 2000-2002, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

  • 2001-2002, Associate Neuroscientist, Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and WomenÌs Hospital, Boston, MA.

  • 2001-2002, Director, Fatigue Countermeasures Research Program, Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and WomenÌs Hospital, Boston, MA.

  • 2002-2003, Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology & Applied Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

  • 2003-Present, Assistant Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

Honors and Awards

  • 1996, Charles E. Shanklin Award for Research Excellence of the Bowling Green State University.

  • 1997-2000, National Research Service Award (T32) - National Institutes of Health.

  • 1998-2000, Distinction in Teaching; Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning; Harvard University.

  • 1999-2001, Fellowship in Clinical and Community Health Research The Medical Foundation and Harold Whitworth Pierce Charitable Trust.

  • 2000, Young Investigator Award Ç American Academy of Sleep Medicine Ç Honorable mention.

  • 2003, Young Investigator, William C. Dement Sleep and Chronobiology Apprenticeship, Brown University.

  • 2005, J. Christian Gillin, M.D. Research Award, Sleep Research Society Foundation.

Recent Publications

  • Czeisler CA, Walsh JK, Roth T, Hughes RJ, Wright KP, Kingsbury L, Arora S, Schwartz JR, Niebler GE, Dinges DF; U.S. Modafinil in Shift Work Sleep Disorder Study Group. Modafinil for excessive sleepiness associated with shift-work sleep disorder. New England Journal of Medicine 353: 476-486, 2005.

  • Frey DJ, Fleshner M, Wright KP Jr. The effects of 40 hours of total sleep deprivation on inflammatory markers in healthy young adults. Brain Behavior and Immunity 21: 1050-1057, 2007.

  • Gronfier C, Wright KP Jr, Krounauer RE, Czeisler CA. Entrainment of the human circadian pacemaker to longer-than-24-h days. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 104: 9081-9086, 2007.

  • Roth T, Wright KP Jr, Walsh J. Effects of Tiagabine on sleep in elderly subjects with primary insomnia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Sleep 29: 335-341, 2006.

  • Sack RL, Auckley D., Auger R., Carskadon MA, Wright Jr. KP, Vitiello MV, Zhdanova IV. Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders: Part I, Basic Principles, Shift Work and Jet Lag Disorders An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Review. Sleep 30: 1460-1483, 2007.

  • Sack RL, Auckley D., Auger R., Carskadon MA, Wright Jr. KP, Vitiello MV, Zhdanova IV. Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders: Part II, Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder, Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder, Free-Running Disorder, and Irregular Sleep-Wake Rhythm An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Review. Sleep 30: 1484-1501, 2007.

  • Scheer FA, Wright KP Jr, Kronauer RE, Czeisler CA. Plasticity of the intrinsic period of the human circadian timing system. Public Library of Science ONE 2:e721, 2007.

  • St-Hilaire MA, Klerman EB, Khalsa SB, Wright KP Jr, Czeisler CA, Kronauer RE. Addition of a non-photic component to a light-based mathematical model of the human circadian pacemaker. Journal of Theoretical Biology 247: 583-599, 2007.

  • Wertz A, Ronda JM, Czeisler CA, Wright KP Jr. Effects of sleep inertia on cognition. Journal of the American Medical Association 295: 163-164, 2006.

  • Wright KP Jr. Too little sleep: a risk factor for obesity? Obesity Management 2: 140-145, 2006.

  • Wright KP Jr, Hull JT, Hughes RJ, Ronda JM, Czeisler CA. Sleep and wakefulness out of phase with internal biological time impairs learning in humans. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 18: 508-521, 2006.
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